Team Suzuki ECSTAR press release:
Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia heads to Tailem Bend, South Australia, this weekend (18-22 April) for Round 3 of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). It’ll be held alongside the Asian Road Race Championship (ARRC) at The Bend Motorsport Park, Australia’s newest race track.
With no rider having previously raced the circuit (apart from the official test days earlier this month), The Bend offers a level playing field for competitors. The track’s freshly laid surface is quite abrasive and is sure to be a factor in both race times and grid positions come Sunday afternoon.
Team Owner Dale Brede: “In testing, the new surface was challenging, but the team worked hard on setup to ensure we looked after our tyres as best we can, but everyone is in the same boat. Both Josh and Markus worked hard with the team to ensure that when we turn up for our three races this weekend, the GSX-R1000 is in the best possible position to continue moving forward. The track layout and facilities are impressive to say the least and it’s pretty exciting to race on a new circuit”.
For Markus Chiodo the new track represents a new opportunity: “The Bend is a really good mix, especially following Wakefield. We get both tight and flowing sections of track, which I’m a little more at home with. I feel like I’m a little behind where I want to be after the test though, so the track time on Thursday will be important for me to improve. I need to be a little more consistent on the surface and manage the tyre wear to be fast through all three races”.
Josh Waters is upbeat about the new circuit: “The Bend is the closest race track to my house, officially making it my home track now, so let’s hope I can get a good result on the weekend! I’m happy with how we went in testing. I really enjoyed the layout of the track and, while the surface is really abrasive, it’s the same track for everyone and just another factor that we have to consider in our race plans for the weekend. At just short of 5km, it’s a long lap with plenty of opportunities to pass, make mistakes and recover from them so I can’t wait to get back on the bike and get into it.”
Racing alongside the ARRC, the ASBK has an extended program with practice on Thursday, Qualifying 1 on Friday afternoon, Qualifying 2 and Race 1 on Saturday, and two races on Sunday for Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia.
You’ll be able to watch all the action live on SBS & Fox Sports or alternatively head to www.asbk.com.au to catch the LIVE STREAM of the entire race day.
For those a little closer to the circuit you can also head to www.asbk.com.au for more information and tickets before heading out to Tailem Bend on April 18-22.
Make sure you follow the team on social media to stay up to date with the teams progress throughout 2018:
Facebook @TeamSuzukiECSTARASBK
Instagram @teamsuzukiecstaraustralia